rule for women. >> defense secretary leon panetta, joined by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general martin dempsey, announced this week an end to the 1-year 1994 prohibition that excludes military women from military combat. in so doing, the u.s. joins other western countries, germany, italy, canada, denmark, finland, norway, sweden, serbia, switzerland, israel, even new zealand, already allow women in combat roles and frontline positions. out of the more than 6,400 total americans killed in iraq and afghanistan, at least 130 american women have been killed in the line of fire. and the number of american women wounded is over 800. soon, women will be able to fight back on the front lines and in elite special forces, but women will have to meet the same strength standards as men if they choose a combat role. senator john mccain, vietnam war hero, and tortured as a prisoner of war, favors the women in combat role. but adds this. "it is critical that we maintain the same high standards that have made the american military the most feared and admired fighting force in the world
